Spain manager Luis Enrique has made it clear Isco has to get more game-time to earn call-up to the national squad.
Under Santiago Solari, Isco has started just two matches for Real Madrid across all competitions this season in Los Blancos’ embarrassing home defeat to CSKA Moscow.
Is Isco’s time at Real Madrid up? Five things to know…
- Isco arrived at Madrid in 2013 for €30 million and was a big part of the club’s success.
- But, since the arrival of Santiago Solari, Isco’s playing time has suffered with just two starts in eight games.
- The Spaniard has been linked with a move away in January, with Barcelona and Arsenal among the names mentioned.
- And Spain boss Luis Enrique has insisted Isco needs to be playing more to keep his place for future La Roja squads.
- Isco has made just 11 appearances in La Liga this season, completing the full 90 minutes just once.
And even though Enrique says he is a “huge admirer” of the forward, he will have to break into Los Blancos’ starting XI on a more regular basis to earn more caps with Spain.
“I’m a huge admirer of Isco,” Enrique said (via Football Espana).
“When you look at the performances at the World Cup, nobody played better than him and he has featured in most of the six games we have had since then.
“His quality and ability is not in doubt but he needs to play regularly at club level if he is to be a regular in the national squad because of the level we have.”
Isco, 26, is contracted to remain in the Spanish capital until 2022 and clubs will have to trigger a reported €700m release clause to prize him away from the club.
Many clubs around Europe are interested in signing the Spaniard, with Premier League sides at the front of the queue ahead of the January transfer window.
Manchester City and Chelsea have reportedly shown an interest in the player, but Arsenal, who are rumoured to be parting ways with Mesut Ozil in January, might get there first.
Arsenal ‘to investigate swapping Ozil for Isco’
The former Germany international appears to be at odds with Arenal manager Unai Emery. The Gunners boss refused to confirm if the speculation over Ozil’s future is true, but insists that he’s part of his plans this season.
Indeed, Ozil returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up against Burnley on Saturday after being left out for the club’s 2-0 defeat to rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Ozil skippered the side against the Clartes and was integral to their 3-1 victory at the Emirates.
According to the Independent, club officials at Arsenal believe they can shed the German for Isco, despite Ozil’s lucrative £300,000-er-week contract. With Isco falling out of favour at the Bernabeau and Ozil already familiar with life in Madrid, the deal isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
The wages aren’t the only hurdle, though, Arsenal will have to shell out over £100m for Isco’s services and with competing clubs boasting much larger bank balances, it could still prove to be a difficult move.
The post Isco warned he needs more playing time to make Spain team amid Arsenal links appeared first on Squawka News.
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